Gathering and banding machine.



C. F. SMITH.

GATHERING AND BANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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G. F. SMITH.

GATHERING AND BANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1910.

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N Nw uw@ C. F. SMITH.

GATHERING AND BANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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C. F. SMITH. GATHERING AND BANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1910.

Patented Jan.5,1915.

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C. F. SMITH. GATHERING AND BANDING MAQINE. APPLICATION HLBD MAR. 31. 1910v Wma 5. wm, mmm Wm. uw Wll. WW k fd M QQ* ful w ,wm H .m 6 v m m wx 0 W. w x un wm Mm wm... l l Mw ||l ll. Il I W n H THE MORRIS PETERS co.. pHoro-LIVIO WASHING ruN, D. C,

C. F. SMITH. GATHBRING AND'BANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-HTH()n WASHINGTON. D.

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CHARLES F. SIVIITI-I, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO MERCANTILE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A vCORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GATHERING AND BANDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 5, 1915..

Application led March 31, 1910. Serial No. 552,586.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gathering and Banding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gathering and banding machines and particularly to that class of such machines as is adapted for gathering and banding envelops.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of the class specified, substantial in construction and rapid and reliable in use.

1n its preferred embodiment my improved machine comprises parts and mechanisms illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is an end elevation corresponding therewith; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line a, a, of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a plan view; Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, and to a larger scale than the previous figures, of the major portion of the banding mechanism. Figs. 6 and 7 are side and end elevations respectively of a modification of one of the details of my improved machine. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a modification of another detail. Fig. 9 is a detail view ofl a portion of what is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the collector guides and gate. Fig. l1 is a detail cross sectional elevation and Fig. 12 is a detail side elevation of the partitions of the collector. Figs. 13 to 2l inclusive are a series of diagrammatic detail side elevations illustrating the operation of the banding mechanism. Figs. 10 to 21 inclusive are to a larger scale than the other figures of the drawings.

My improved machine is particularly adapted for use in connection with an envelop making machine, for taking the envelops as they are delivered in uniform succession therefrom, gather them into bunches, each containing a predetermined number of envelops, band the bunch and then discharge the banded bunch from the machine. On bed plate 8 main uprights 4 and 5 are provided, having bearings 6 and 7 in which is mounted shaft 8 of the revoluble collector.

The @Heaton- Said collector comprises two disk like frames 10, 11 fixed to said shaft 8 and having a plurality of radial partitions 9, 9 pivotally mounted as at 12 therebetween with their pivotal axes parallel to collector shaft 8. Said collector shaft 8 is rotated constantly in an anti-clockwise direction, Figs. l and 3, by worm 13 on vertical shaft 14 in engagement with worm gearr 15 on said shaft 8. For convenience, partitions as 9 are mounted in extending ears of hubs as 19 having arm 29, fixed to pivot shaft 12, for engagement with fixed cam 16 for moving said partitions on their pivots as 12 relatively to said collector, at predetermined times. Said partitions 9, 9 are urged in an anti-clockwise direction and arms as 29 to engagement with the outer face of cam 16 by means of spring actuated plungers as 55 one end of which aliuts on flange 56 of frame 10 and the other end of which engages ears 57 of shafts 12. For continuously delivering the envelops at a uniform rate to said collector I provide a pair of constantly rotating coacting` rolls 17, 18 fixed to shafts 21, 22 respectively having bearings in uprights 4, 5. Said shafts are geared together by gears 23, 24 respectively and shaft 21 has spiral gear 2O fixed thereon for engagement with spiral gear 25 on shaft 26. Roll 18 may be urged to coaction with roll 17 by springs as 27, Fig. 1. As the envelops are delivered downwardly in rapid succession by rolls 17, 18, into the spaces between successive partitions as 9, 9 it is desirable that each of said envelops be moved out of the path of delivery of said envelops so that each succeeding envelop may have unobstructed access to the collector. To these ends 1 have provided a pair of shafts preferably arranged in parallelism with each other and with the path of delivery of said envelops. Said shafts are located at each side respectively, of said path of delivery of the envelops (Fig. 2) and each is provided at its lower end with 'a wiping arm as 80 to shaft 28, extending radially therefrom for engagement with the envelop. Said shafts 28 and 182 are actuated from shaft 21 by the following means. Shaft 28 has bevel gear 32 fixed thereon and in engagement with bevel gear 83 on horizontal shaft 34 in bracket 35 depending from bridge 3G supported on uprights 4, 5. Said shaft 34 has gear 37 xed thereon and driven from gear 88 fixed to shaft 21. As the means for driving shaft 182 with its arm 31 is in all respects similar to that just described for driving shaft 28, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. As illustrated in Fig. 8 I find it sometimes expedient to employ only one wiping arm instead of a pair. In this case I preferably make said arm as 301 of sufficient length to reach half way across the envelop and arrange said arm to eoact with the top edge thereof instead of with the opposite side edges. For retaining the envelops in the collector as said collector is revolved, I provide one or more circumferential guards as 40, 41 concentric with said collector and side guards 42, 43. Also between the lower ends of guards 40, 41 is pivoted spring supported swinging gate 39 for temporarily supporting the bunch of envelops prior to its ejection from the collector into the compresser.

The @jedem-For successively discharging the gathered bunches of en\elops from between successive contiguous partitions as 9, 9 I have provided a series of ejectors, preferably arranged oppositely in pairs as 44 45 mounted in said collector for radial movement relatively thereto. Said opposite members as 44, 45 of said pairs are arranged in circumferential rows adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of the spaces between said partitions 9, 9. Each of said ejectors is provided with a foot as 46 to j ejector 44. 'Ihesefeet serve as supports for the envelopsas said envelops are delivered to the collector and as said envelops travel around in said collector to the point of discharge and said feet are then efficient to discharge the bunch from the collector. Said ejectors as 44, 45 are guided for radial movement relatively to said collector by slots as 43 in disks as 50 fixed to shaft 8. Each ejector is provided with a pin as 49 to ejector 44 for engagement with its cam as 52 fixed to a sleeve as 60 of bearing 6; and said ejeetors as 44, 45 are urged to engagement with their respective cams by springs in telescopic tubular spring boxes as V54. Cams 52 and 53 are right and left duplicates and are set eireumferentially relatively to each other so as to cause the opposite members of each pair of ejeetors to move outwardly in said collector at the same time. If desired, to attain simpler construction a simple circumferential row of ejectors may be employed as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this case foot 406 is made of suflieient length to engage the bunch of envelops midway its length and to have a relatively long field of contact therewith. Also said foot 406 would have a width (Fig. 6) sufficient to fill the space between contiguous partitions 9, 9 when said partitions were in their discharging positions.4

- The @muessen-Directly below the co1- -side plate 64 of the opposite pair.

lector on coaxial shafts G2, 63, is mounted the rotary compressor indicated in a general way by 70. Said compressor comprises two pairs of oppositely disposed right and left side plates G4, 65 and 6G, 07 respectively, positioned symmetrically relatively to the common axis of shafts 62, 63 and when at rest, located relatively to the discharging position of the collector for receiving the bunch of envelops between the opposite members of said pairs of side plates. As one pair of side plates as (36, G7 is, in respect of mounting and operative means, like the other pair a description of the one will suffice for both. Shaft (33 has bearings in upright 5 and in auxiliary frame (59. Said shaft 63 is tubular and has reciproeating plunger 61 mounted therein. Side plates 66, 67 are mounted on parallel arms 72, 73 respectively and said arms are connected to said plunger 61 by links as 74, 75 to arm 72, through pins as 177 inreaching through slots as 7 6 in tubular shaft (53. Arms 72, 73 are constrained against material movement endwise of shaft 63 by means of links as 77 to arm 72 pivoted in ears as 78 on the squared end of said shaft 63. By this arrangement endwise movement of plunger 61 in shaft G3 causes arms 72, 73 and side plates 66, 67 to move in parallelism toward and from the axis of shaft 03. Plunger 61 is urged inwardly by spring 79 between shoulder 30 of said plunger and shoulder 59 in said shaft 03. Plunger G1 may be moved outwardly in shaft 63 by means of yoke arm 82 having pins as 83 in engagement with groove S4 in sliding sleeve 35. Said sleeve in its turn engages adjustable nut SG on threaded end G10 of said plunger 61. Yoke arm 32 is pivotally mounted in bracket 142 in upright G9 and in the rearwardly reaching portion of said arm roll 143 engages cam 144 on shaft 101. Yoke arm 81 is similarly mounted in bracket 145 on the opposite side of the machine and has roll 146 thereof in engagement with cam 147 also fixed to shaft 101. By these means yoke arms 81, 82 may be actuated to synchronously close the several side plates of compressor 70. Side plate G0 has lip 90 inreaching therefrom toward Said lip is provided to hold the band against the bunch of envelops as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Guides 87, 88 for locating the bunch of envelops endwise in the compressor are fixed to the inner ends of shafts G2, 03 respectively. For causing coaxial shafts 02, (53 to rotate synchronously, shaft 91 parallel with and adjacent to said shafts G2, G3 has fixed thereon equal gears 92, 93 for engagement with equal gears 94, 95 respectively, gear 94 being fixed on shaft 62 and gear 95 being fixedl on shaft 63. Shaft 91 has bearings in 1,123,606 llli uprights 4, 5 and 68, 69. Compressor 7 0 is caused to rotate intermittently one full revolution at a time by the following means: Spiral gear 96 fixed to shaft 91 is driven by spiral gear 97 fixed to the upperend of obliquely disposed shaft 98. Spiral gear 99 is fixed to the lower end of said shaft 98 and is driven by intermittent spiral gear 100 iixed to shaft 101. Said intermittent gear 100 has obliquely disposed teeth 102 in a portion of its periphery and a circumferential rib 103 normal to its axis of revolution in the remainder of its periphery. The number of teeth 102 of gear 100 is equal to the number of teeth in gear 99 so that the constant rotation of gear 100 will cause gear 99 to make one continuous full revolution and then to remain at rest during the engagement therewith of rib 103 of gear 100, and said intermittent rotation of gear 99 is transmitted by the means described to shafts 62, 63 of compressor 70. Obliquely disposed shaft 98 has bearings 104, 105 inreaching from upright 68. For supporting the bunch of envelops upon its delivery to the compressor and until the compressor has closed upon the bunch table 106 pivoted freely on shaft 107 is provided. Said table has a downwardly extending arm 108 to which is pivoted yoke arm 109 having roll 110 in engagement with cam 111 on shaft 101.

Band supply/. On stud 112 in bracket 113 outreaching from base 3 is mounted band reel 114. Roll on stud 116 in said bracket 113 is provided to direct a continuous band from said reel 114 onto table 117. Feed rolls 118, 119 are eflicient for feeding the band forwardly over said table 117. Gum dish 120 is conveniently mounted above table 117 and is provided withv the usual roll 121 and scraper 122. Gummer 125 on shaft 126 receives gum from said roll 121 through the instrumentality of intermediate rolls 124 and 123. Rotary cutter 127 is mounted on glimmer shaft 126 and coacts with fixed cutter 1270 to sever the continuous band into portions of predetermined length and gummer is positioned circumferentially relatively to cutter 127 so as to apply gum to the band just in advance of the point of severance. For laying the band against the bunch of envelops and for pressing down the gummed end of said band, roll 128 is pivoted in the upper end of arm 129. Said arm 129 is fixed on shaft 107 coaxially with table 106 and has downwardly reaching arm 130 fixed to the outer end of said shaft. Yoke arm 131 having roll 132 in engage* ment with cam 133 fixed to shaft 101 is piv otally connected at 134 with arm 130. Roll 128 may be frictionally retarded in its rotation by means of clamp screw 135 (Fig. 9). Bunch delivery belt 180 is supported on pulleys 148, 149.

Driving macina- Power may be conducted to my improved machine by the usual belt not shown in engagement with pulley on main shaft 151. Said shaft 151 has a bearing in standard 152 on base 3 and has sprocket 153 fixed thereto for connection by means of chain 154 with sprocket 155 fixed to shaft 26. Gear 156 also fixed to shaft 151 drives gear 157 fixed to one end of shaft 158. On the other end of said shaft 158 worm 159 drives worm gear 160 on shaft 101. Gear 136 on shaft 101 drives gear 137 of upper band feed roll shaft 138. Gear 139 on said shaft 138 drives gear 140 of lower feed roll 119. Gear 181 on shaft 126 is driven from gear 139 on shaft 138 through intermediate 141, and lower roll shaft gear 161 is driven from gear 181. Paste roll 121 has gear 163 fixed on its shaft meshing with gear 1640 fixed to shaft 1604. Gear 164- fixed to the outboard end of said shaft 1604 meshes with gear 165 which gear is in turn driven from gear 181 on shaft 126. Shaft 158 has gear 166 thereon for driving gear of shaft 171 of delivery belt pulley 148 through the train of gears 167, 168, 169. Main shaft 151, has bevel gear 172 thereon driving bevel gear 173 on one end of intermediate cross shaft 174. On the other end of said cross shaft 174 is fixed bevel gear 175 driving bevel gear 176 on vertical shaft 14.

Operation-The operation of my improved machine is as follows: Main pulley 150 being rotated in the direction of its arrow and envelops being delivered downwardly at a predetermined uniform rate, preferably with the seal fiap edge leading, to the bite of feed rolls 17, 18, said rolls advance said envelops to between those partitions 9, 9 of the revoluble collector standing upwardly at either side of the line of downward delivery of said envelops. The revoluble collector being revolved constantly and uniformly in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 3)l to obtain the predetermined count, the first envelop should be delivered between said partitions 9, 9 when those partitions are in positions relatively to each other and to the line of delivery (indicated at L) shown in Fig. 12. Therein arm 29b has just passed horn 16a of cam 16 and partition 9b has passed from dotted position 9a on one side of line of delivery L to the other side thereof. As each envelop is delivered between partitions 9", 9, wiping arms 30, 31 engage the ends respectively and force said envelop out of the path of delivery, toward partition 9b. Said arms 30, 31 then wipe by said envelop ends and are rotated by their respective shafts to engage the next succeeding envelop. When the predetermined number of envelops, less one, required for forming the bunch has been delivered between adjacent partitions, the leading partition will have nearly reached'k-position 9I and the following partition will have reached dottedposition 9a. Directly succeeding the delivery of the last envelop of said bunch and before the delivery of the first envelop of the next bunch,

vsaid following partition will pass from ydotted position 9a to position 0b thus permitting the first envelop of the next bunch to be delivered into the next receiving space between adjacent partitions. The envelops, gathered into bunches, now pass under guards 40, 41 and between guards 42, and thence downwardly and around to the point of discharge, preferably diametrally opp@ site the point of gathering. In the ineantime the band B is continuously advanced from reel 114 over roll 115 and table 117 by means of feed rolls 118, 119 and thence over fixed cutter 127 0 and under rotary cutter 127 where the ragged end of said band may be trimmed off. b'aid band is then advanced over the forward portionv of table 117 and across above the opening between the blades of compressor 70 (Fig. 13). In the mean time gum has been conveyed from gum dish 120 by means of rolls 121, 123, 124 to gummer 125. Just before the band has reached the position of Fig. 14 Oummer 125 delivers its increment of gum to said band and just after reaching the position of Fig. 15 rotary cutter 127 coacts with fixed cutter 1270 to sever said band B just forward of the gunnned portion thereof. Now to return to the progress of the bunch of envelops, said bunch is approaching its point of discharge during the forward movement of the band over compressor 70 (Fig. 18) and in Fig. 14 said band has reached its forwardmost position, arm 29 has reached position 29c in cam 16 thereby closing the leading partition against the bunch., as at 90, sufficiently to allow of its passage between the opposite side plates of collector 70, said side plates being then at their maximum distance apart. Said bunch is now directly over spring supported gate 39 and ejectors 44, 45 are about to be liberated by their cams 52, 53 respectively for abrupt outward radial movement. Also table 106 is in its upper position ready to receive and support the bunch. In Fig. 15 the ejectors, as 44, 45, have moved downwardly and forced the bunch against gate 89 swinging it to one side between side plates 65, 67l (Fig. 10), band B has been forced down over lip 90 of plate 66, the end of said band projecting into the open space below lip 90 between plates 64, 66, and the bunch of envelops is delivered fully into compressor 70 and onto table 106. l Immediately upon the delivery of the bunch to the compressor, band B is severed. Arms 81, 82 are now moved outwardly (Fig. 5) drawing their respective plungers, as 61, outwardly and closing side plates 64, and 66, 67 simultaneously towardeach other; respectivelyto compress. thek bunch (Fig. 16). Intermittent spiral gear 100 now starts to rotate oblique shaft 9S, shaft 91 and coaxial shafts 62, 63 of compressor (Figs. 5 and 17), table 106 is swung downwardly and band B is wrapped aroundone edge of the bunch. Compressor 70 continues its rotation and roll 128 swings into engagement with band B and lays the same against the face of the bunch (Fig. 18) follows said band around the other edge of the bunch (Fig. 19) and lays and presses the gummed end of the band against the leading end thereof lying below lip 90 (Fig. 20). Compressor 70 has now made one full rotation and has come to rest. rIhe frictional retarding against rotation of roll 128 tends to draw band B taut against said bunch and to lay the successive bands uniformly. Table 106 has now (Fig. 20) swung downwardly out of the path of discharge of the bunch. Roll 12S now backs away from engagement with band B, compressor 70 is opened and the banded bunch allowed to fall onto delivery belt 180, and compressor 70 is in position for receiving the next succeeding bunch.

I claim 1. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a rotatable compressor, lneans for delivering a band to the compressor, means for delivering a plurality of envelops to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for wrapping said band about the bunch of envelops and means for securing the band.

2. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a collector, means for delivering envelops to said collector, a rotatable compressor, means for delivering a band to the compressor, means for simultaneously delivering a predetermined number of envelops from the collector to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for wrapping said band about the bunch of envelops and means for securing the band.

3. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a rotatable compressor, means for delivering a gummed band of predetermined length to the compressor, means for delivering a plurality of envelops simultaneously to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for wrapping said band about the bunch of envelops and means for pressing down the gummed -end of the band.

4. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a collector, means for delivering envelops to said collector, a rotatable compressor, means for delivering a gummed band of predetermined length to the compressor, means for delivering a predetermined number of envelops simultaneously from the collector to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for wrapping said band about the bunch of envelops and means for pressing down the gummed end of the band.

5. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector having a plurality of radial partitions, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector and means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops, after said envelop has been delivered between two adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, comprising a rotating shaft adjacent to the path of travel of the envelop into the collector, a wiping arm fixed to said shaft for engagement with the envelop.

6. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector having a plurality of radial partitions, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector and means for moving each envelop out of the path of travel of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between two adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, comprising a pair of retaining shafts adjacent to each end respectively of the path of travel of the envelop into the collector, and a wiping arm fixed to each shaft for engagement with the envelop.

7. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between two adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, comprising a rotating shaft adjacent to the path of travel of the envelop into the collector, a wiping arm fixed to said shaft for engagement with the envelop and means for retaining the envelops in the collector.

8. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector and means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between two adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, comprising a pair of rotating shafts adjacent to each end respectively of the path of travel of the envelop into the collector,

and a wiping arm fixed to each shaft for engagement with the envelop.

9. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between two adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, comprising a pair of rotating shafts adjacent to each end respectively of the path of travel of the envelop into the collector, a wiping arm fixed to each shaft for engagementwith the envelop, means for retaining the envelops in the collector, movable means for temporarily supporting the bunch of envelops at the point of delivery from the collector, an ejector mounted in each space between adjacent partitions in said collector, spring actuated means for moving the ejectors radially outwardly of said collector and a fixed cam for retracting the ejectors.

l0. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between two adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, comprising a rotating shaft adjacent to the path of travel of the envelop into the collector, a wiping arm fixed to said shaft for engagement with the envelop, means for retaining the envelops in the collector', movable means for temporarily supporting the bunch of envelops at the point of delivery from the collector, a plurality of pairs of ejectors mounted on said collector, opposite members of said pairs being arranged in two circumferential rows adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of the spaces between said radial partitions and means for successively moving said ejectors synchronously in pairs outwardly of said collector.

l1. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a rotatable compressor, means for supporting the bunch of envelops in the compressor, means for advancing the leading end of a band across the path of the bunch to the compressor, means for applying gum to the band, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering a predetermined number of envelops simultaneously to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about fac the bunch of envelops and means for pressing down the gummed end of the band.

l2. A gathering and banding `machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, means for revolving the collector, means `for delivering envelops to the collector,

means for retaining the envelops in the collector, a rotatable compressor, intermittently operable means for supporting the bunch of envelops in the compressor, means for advancing a continuous band and for delivering the leading end thereof across the path of the bunch from the collector to the compressor, means for applying gum to the band, means for severing the band-into predetermined lengths, means for delivering a predetermined number of envelops simultaneously from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means` for intermittently rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch ofenvelops and means for pressing down the gummed end ofthe band.

i3. A gathering and banding machine, including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial ypartitions movably mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means for successively moving the partitions relatively to said collector, from one side of the path of delivery of said envelops to the other side thereof at predetermined intervals, means for retaining the envelops in the collector, a rotatable compressor, means for delivering a band to the compressor, means for delivering a plurality of envelops from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for Wrapping said band about the bunch of envelops and means for securing the band.

l-l. A gathering and banding machine including in comb'nation, a revoluble collector, a pluralityA of radial partitions movably mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means for successively moving the partitions relativelv to said collector, from one side of the path of delivery of said envelops to the other side thereof at predetermined intervals, means for retaining the envelops in the collector, a rotatable compressor, intermittently operating means for supporting the bunch of envelops in the compressor, means for delivering a gummed band of predetermined length to the compressor, means lfor simultaneously delivering a predetermined number of envelops from the collector to said compressor, means for rotating the compressor and means for coaction Wi th the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops.

15V. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions movably mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means for successively moving the partitions relatively to said collector, from one side of the path of delivery of said envelops to the other side thereof at predetermined intervals, means for retaining the envelops in the collector, a rotatable compressor, intermittently operating means for supporting the bunch of envelops in the compressor, means for delivering a gummed band of predetermined length to the cempressor, means for delivering a plurality of envelops simultaneously from the collector to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for wrapping said band about the bunch of envelops and means for pressing down the gummed end of the band.

16. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between tivo adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the vnext succeeding envelop, means for retaining the envelops in the collector, an ejector mounted in each space between adjacent partitions in said collector, means for successively moving the ejectors radially outwardly of said collector, means for retracting the ejectors, a rotatable compressor positioned for receiving the bunch of envelops from the collector, intermittently operating means for supporting the bunch of envelops in the compressor, means for rotating the compressor and means for coaction with the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops.

17. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector', a plurality of radiall partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, mea-ns for delivering envelops to the collector, means for moving each envelop out of the path of delivery of the envelops after said envelop has been delivered between tvvo adjacent partitions of said collector and before the delivery of the next succeeding envelop, means for retaining the envelops in the collector, a rotatable compressor, means for delivering a predetermined number of envelops simultaneously from the collector to the compressor, intermittently operating means for supporting the bunch of envelops in the compressor, means for advancing a continuous band and for delivering the leading end into the path of thebunch from the collector to the compressor, means for applying gum to the band, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops and means for pressing down the gummed end of the band.

18. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble col lector, a rotatable compressor comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed right and left side plates, each pair being mounted. on a rotatable shaft, said shafts being coaxial, a lip extending from one side plate toward that side plate of the other pair opposite thereto, a pivotally mounted table belovv the compressor for supporting the bunch of envelops, means for advancing the leading end of a band over said lip for engagement with the bunch of envelops, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering the bunch of envelops from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops, means for oscillating said table from and into the path of discharge of the bunch of envelops and means for securing the band.

19. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a collector, a rotatable compressor comprising two pairs of cppcsitely disposed right and left side plates, each plate being mounted on a rotatable shaft, said shafts being coaxial, a lip extending frcm one side plate toward that side plate of the other pair opposite thereto, a pivotally mounted table below the compressor for supporting the bunch of envelops, means for advancing a continuous band and for delivering the leading end thereof1 over said lip for engagement with the bunch of envelops, means for applying gum to the band, ,means forl severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering the bunch of envelops from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops, means for intermittently oscillating said table from and into the path of discharge of the bunch of envelops, an ironer pivotally mounted for movement toward and from the axis of the compressor and means for oscillating the ironer in coaction with the compressor during the rotation of the compressor.

Q0. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a collector, a rotatable compressor comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed right and left side plates, said pairs being mounted for rotation about a common axis, said axis lying between the tivo members of each pair, a pivotally mounted table below the compressor for supporting the bunch of envelops, means for advancing a continuous band and for delivering the leading end thereof over said compressor for engagement with the bunch of envelops, means for applying gum to the band, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering the bunch of envelops from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops, means for intermittently oscillating the table from and into the path of discharge of the bunch of envelops, an oscillatable arm, an ironer comprising a frictionally retarded roll pivotally mounted on said arm and means for oscillating said arm to move said roll toward and from the compressor.

2l. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a collector, a rotatable compressor comprising tivo pairs of oppositely disposed right and left side plates, each pair being mounted on a rotatable shaft, said shafts being coaxial, one side plate of each pair being mounted for movement toward and from and in substantial parallelism with the axis of its supporting shaft, a pivotally mounted table below the compressor for supporting the bunch of envelops, means for advancing a continuous band and for delivering the leading end thereof over said compressor for engagement With the bunch of envelops, means for applying the gum to the band, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering the bunch of envelops from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelops, means for intermittently oscillating the table from and into the path of discharge of the bunch of envelops, ironing means for coaction with the compressor for pressing down the gummed end of the band and means for oscillating the ironer in coaction with the compressor during the rotation of the compressor.

22. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a collector, a rotatable compressor comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed right and left side plates, each pair being mounted on a rotatable shaft, said shafts being coaxial, each side plate being mounted for movement toward and from and in substantial parallelism iviththe axis of its supporting shaft, means for intermittently rotating said shafts in synchronism, a pivotallv mounted table beloW the compressor for supporting the ioo bunch of envelope, means for advancing a continuous band and for delivering the leading end thereof over said compressor for engagement with the bunch of envelope, means for applying gum to the band, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering the bunch of enielops from the collector to the compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for intermittently rotating the compressor for Wrapping the band about the bunch of envelope, means for intermittently oscillating the table from and into the path of discharge of the bunch of envelope and ironing means for coaction With the compressor for pressing down the gummed end of the band.

28. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a bottomless compressor, means for delivering a plurality of envelope to said compressor, means for opening and closing the compressor, in termittently operating means for supporting the bunch of envelope in the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for Wrapping a band about the bunch of envelops and means for joining together the ends of the band.

24. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, an intermittently moving collector, means for delivering envelope to said collector, a compressor, means for simultaneously delivering a predetermined number of envelope from the collector to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor and means for securing together the envelope in said compressor.

25. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a rotating collector, means for delivering envelope to said collector, a compressor, means for simultaneously delivering a predetermined number of envelope from the collector to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor, means for rotating the compressor for Wrapping a band about the bunch of envelope and means i'or joining together the ends of the band.

2G. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, means for revolving the collector, means for delivering envelops to the collector, means ior retaining the envelope in the collector, a compressor, intermittently operable means for supporting the bunch of envelope in the compressor, means for advancing a continuous band and ior delivering the leading end thereof across the path of the bunch from the collector to the compressor, means for severing the band into predetermined lengths, means for delivering a predetermined number of envelope simultaneously from the collector to said compressor, means for closing and opening the compressor and means for securing the band on the bunch of envelope.

27. A gathering and banding machine including in combination, a revoluble collector, a plurality of radial partitions mounted thereon, means for revolving the collector, means for retaining the envelope in the collector, an ejector mounted in each space between adjacent partitions in said collector, means for successively moving the ejeetors radially outwardly ol said collector, means for retracting the ejectors, a compressor positioned for receiving the bunch of envelope from the collector, intermittently operating means for supporting the bunch of envelope in the compressor and means for coaction with the compressor for applying the band to the bunch of envelops.

igned this 28th day of March 1910 at Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio before two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

HOWARD MARSHALL, JOHN J. CONNELL.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner o1' Patents, Washington, D. C."

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,123,606, granted January 5,

1915, upon the application of Charles F. Smith, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for an improvement in Gathering and Banding Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 3Q, for the Word retaining read rotating; and that the said Letters Patent should be read Withn this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Otice.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of March, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

